The popularity of A-level subjects such as French and German drop to a new low
following a decision to make languages optional at GCSE a decade ago,
figures show

The number of pupils studying a foreign language has dropped to a record low amid fresh warnings over the dire state of French and German in state schools.

Figures from exam boards show that the number of A-levels sat in traditionally popular foreign languages has halved in just over a decade.

French entries alone plummeted by more than seven per cent this year and have now declined by 43 per cent since the year 2000.

Just 10,400 pupils took an exam in the subject this summer – the lowest on record – compared with more than 18,200 in the late 90s.

German entries have more than halved from almost 9,000 just over a decade ago to 4,200 this summer. It means pupils are significantly more likely to study Latin and Ancient Greek than the language of Europe’s economic powerhouse.

The number of students taking exams in Spanish also declined, despite increases recorded in the last few years.

The drop has been put down to Labour’s decision to make languages optional at GCSE-level for the first time in 2004 – sending the subjects into a freefall and having a knock-on effect at A-level.

It is also feared that students are deserting languages because they fear it is too hard to achieve top grades.

Earlier this month, the qualifications regulator Ofqual told exam boards to change the way languages were tested in the future after an investigation found not enough top grades were being awarded.

Ministers insist they are now reversing declines by making languages compulsory in primary schools. They have also been included in a new GCSE league table measure – the English Baccalaureate – which ranks schools' performance in a series of five core subjects.

It has already led to a surge in demand for languages at GCSE and AS-level taken in the first year of the sixth-form. It is hoped that the reforms will impact on A-level entries in 2015.

But business leaders criticised today’s results, saying British schoolchildren were lagging behind their peers on the continent.

John Cridland, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry, said: “Europe remains our largest export market so to see yet another fall in the languages used on our very doorstep is a blow.

“It has been a worry to see foreign language study in our schools under such sustained pressure and it will be some time yet before we know whether making foreign language study compulsory for pupils at [primary school] has made any difference. It is important that young people considering their future subject choices are made aware of just how useful studying a foreign language can be for their careers.”

Marcus Mason, policy manager for the British Chambers of Commerce, said: “The continued decrease in the take up of foreign languages is a worrying trend as many businesses report that there is a skills gap in this area. Having strong knowledge of a foreign language is an excellent way of preparing young people for the wide-range of opportunities available in today’s globalised world.”

Vicky Gough, schools adviser for the British Council, said: "The UK needs far more young people to learn languages to a high standard in order to stay competitive on the world stage, and to become the language teachers of the future.

“Understanding another language is key to understanding another culture - and that's increasingly crucial for life and work."